The Generators – The Winter Of Discontent (c) 2006 Sailor's Grave RecordsSo I receive this CD with a band named the Generators and I think sweet that is a great name. I put the CD in and give it a listen. The first thing that comes to mind is that these guys sound familiar and I am right they do. They sound like everyone else that came before them and I understand that this is not their first CD but all this music doesn't sound very original. I am sure they are great at what they do but it is just not for me. If you like music that everyone else has done you should go out and buy it. Although if you like you music a little more original then look elsewhere.
Category: Rock
Godhead
Godhead – The Shadow Line (c) 2006 Cement Shoes RecordsMusic today is becoming so bad that I expect the return of butt rock hair bands in droves any day. Godhead has much of the charm of an Alice in Chains or a Candlebox. The songs are mostly three and a half minute radio rock marvels. Apparently the band is looking to "get to that next level" whatever that is. If you ask me this is built to sell. Because of the excellent financial backing, however, Godhead's new CD The Shadow Line does include a bonus DVD. They also sent me a cool looking sticker and I must give them props for that. I do love the schwag!-Jerry Actually
Angel City Outcasts
Angel City Outcasts – Deadrose Junction (c) 2006 Sailor's Grave RecordsThough they may tout the word outcast, these L.A. Boys massively recall the extremely embraced early 80's SoCal rock sound, albeit blended with more punk attitude. The Angel City Outcasts new release "Deadrose Junction" begs to be compared to early Crue and G'N'R. It is definitely straight ahead rock, but thankfully it lacks the posturing and pretense of the 80's hair-metal glam scene. "Deadrose Junction" also raises the rock bar with some of their more aggressive punk riffs. Comparisons and critiques aside, I still can't help but think that I could really get into blasting this on a beat up jam box while riding around drunk in the back of a pickup anywhere in the Midwest. 3 cheers for Rock and Roll!
The Defilers
The Defilers – Metal Mountains (c) 2005 Dry Run RecordsStraight outta motherfucking Louisville! The Defilers pack the power of the Cult, Kiss, Clutch, Black Sabbath and Zeke into one sweet rock and roll cavalcade. "Metal Mountains" presents 9 tracks of progressive metallic indie-like rock without the pretension. Basically what we got here is heavy rock and roll. It seems that if all things must run the viscous circle, a resurrection of early 70's power rock is way low on the list of evils. The one downfall to "Metal Mountains" (at least for me), some of the track are just way too damn long. But you should determine your own attention span. None the less, If you like to rock and you like to crank it really freakin' loud, then by all means head to the Metal Mountains!
Bullets and Octane
In the Mouth of the Young© 2006 RCA RecordsHoly crap, it's Rock and Roll. They don't seem to make it much like this any more. The forthcoming release "In the Mouth of the Young" by Bullets and Octane is some serious straight forward rock. Kind of in the vein of Motorhead meets Lynyrd Skynrd, the disc cranks out 12 tracks of fist banging and living room destroying rock and fucking roll. The new release is produced by Page Hamilton and the percussive and precise Helmet edge shows. As I like to do comparisons to more adequately describe the sound to folks who may be looking to buy this stuff, aside from the prior likeness, Bullets and Octane could be a crazy offspring of Iron Maiden and Clutch. Don't let me mislead you by my labels though, this is good stuff on its own, regardless of influence on their part or mine. My personal favorite is track 9 "Caving In". It has an evil sing-along quality to it. Take it or leave it, it has serious rock power, if not Pure Rock Fury.{mos_sb_discuss:5}
Ty Tabor
Ty Tabor – Naomi's Solar Pumpkin (re-master) © 1997 Tabor Tooth Records – 2005 Official bootlegThe version of Naomi's Solar Pumpkin (NSP) that I am reviewing is the 2005 re-master of the original 1997 release. Written and released by Ty Tabor , the astounding guitar player and song writer from the perpetually underrated band King's X, NSP reflects the best parts of Faith Hope Love era Kings X. The CD is filled with some of the most tasteful guitar work around and though it crosses a lot of gray area genres, it is largely on the mellow side. (this is of course subjective) In regards to the more aggressive end of the CD's spectrum, Ty Tabor was running “Drop-D” tuning long before it became the status quo. This is certainly evident on NSP. I can't exactly speak for the quality difference between the original and the re-master as I don't have the original for a reference. I will however just assume that the new version is better. That being said, I'll keep this short. Ty rocks!-Jerry Actually